Research

I study how consumers, firms, markets, and policy affect technological change, with a goal of facilitating transitions to sustainable, low-carbon technologies. I have expertise in choice modeling, programming in R, and qualitative research methods, as well as the global electric vehicle industry.

Citations: 573 | h-index: 6 | i10-index: 5

Source: Google Scholar

Google Scholar ORCID Research Gate

Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals

*indicates student advised by Helveston

1. Helveston, J.P., He, G., & Davidson, M.R. (2022) “Quantifying the cost savings of global solar photovoltaic supply chains” Nature. forthcoming. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05316-6
   Details View PDF Code & Data Research Gate 中文

Haiku Summaries
Global supply chains • are important for reaching • lower green tech costs

2. Helveston, John P. (2022) “logitr: Fast Estimation of Multinomial and Mixed Logit Models with Preference Space and Willingness to Pay Space Utility Parameterizations” Journal of Statistical Software. forthcoming. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2210.10875
   Details View PDF Code & Data Research Gate

Fast estimation • of mixed logit models and • WTP in R

3. *Roberson, Laura A. & Helveston, John P. (2022) “Not all subsidies are equal: Measuring preferences for electric vehicle financial incentives” Environmental Research Letters. 17(084003). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac7df3
   Details View PDF Code & Data

EV subsidies • should be instant cash rebates • and not tax credits

4. Szajnfarber, Z., Groover, J.A., Wei, Z., Broniatowski, D.A., Chernicoff, W., & Helveston, J.P. (2021) “Evolvability Analysis Framework: Adding Transition Path and Stakeholder Diversity to Infrastructure Investment Decisions” Systems Engineering. 25(1):35-50. DOI: 10.1002/sys.21600
   Details View

Transition pathways • are important for upgrades • to infrastructure

5. Feinberg, F., Bruch, E., Braun, M., Hemenway Falk, B., Fefferman, N., Feit, E.M., Helveston, J.P., Larremore, D., McShane, B.B., Patania, A., & Small, M.L. (2020) “Choices in networks: a research framework” Marketing Letters. 31(4), 349-359. DOI: 10.1007/s11002-020-09541-9
   Details View PDF

We live in networks; • choice modelers should include • them in their models

6. *Roberson, Laura A. & Helveston, John P. (2020) “Electric vehicle adoption: can short experiences lead to big change?” Environmental Research Letters. 15(0940c3). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/aba715
   Details View PDF Code & Data

A five minute ride • in an EV can increase • the chance you’ll buy one

7. Helveston, John P. & Nahm, Jonas (2019) “China's key role in scaling low-carbon energy technologies” Science. 366(6467), pg. 794-796. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz1014
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To meet climate goals • we must work with China to • scale up more green tech

8. Helveston, J.P., Seki, S., Min, J., Fairman, E., Boni, A.A., Michalek, J.J., & Azevedo, I. (2019) “Choice at the Pump: Measuring Preferences for Lower-Carbon Combustion Fuels” Environmental Research Letters. 14(8). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab2bd2
   Details View PDF

Drivers on average • are willing to pay more for • lower carbon fuels

9. Helveston, J.P., Wang, Y., Karplus, V.J., & Fuchs, E.R.H. (2019) “Institutional Complementarities: The Origins of Experimentation in China's Plug-in Electric Vehicle Industry” Research Policy. 48(1), pg. 206-222. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2018.08.006
   Details View PDF

Institutions can • dramatically affect how • industries emerge

10. Helveston, J.P., Feit, E.M., & Michalek, J.J. (2018) “Pooling Stated and Revealed Preference Data in the Presence of Endogeneity” Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 109, pg. 70-89. DOI: 10.1016/j.trb.2018.01.010
    Details View PDF Research Gate

RP data with • endogeneity may • make things worse when pooled

11. Helveston, J.P., Liu, Y., Feit, E.M., Fuchs, E.R.H., Klampfl, E., & Michalek, J.J. (2015) “Will subsidies drive electric vehicle adoption? Measuring consumer preferences in the U.S. and China” Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 73, 96–112. DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2015.01.002
    Details View PDF Code & Data Research Gate

Full electric cars: • Chinese seem to like them more • than Americans

Working Papers & Papers Under Review

1. *Zhao, L. & Helveston, J.P. (2021) “Measuring and modeling multi-modal trip choices with uncertain arrival times” Under review.

Haiku Summaries
DC commuters • want fewer bus transfers and • more metro access

2. *Kaplan, Leah & Helveston, John P. (2021) “Undercutting Transit? Exploring potential competition between autonomous vehicles and public transportation in the U.S.” Under review.

Robo-taxis won’t • (at the moment) take over • transit ridership

3. Murphree, M., Helveston, J.P., & Breznitz, D. (2021) “Intellectual Property as a Production Input: Expanding Theories of Institutional Change and Profiting from Innovation” Under review.

Conference Publications

1. *Roberson, Laura A. & Helveston, John P. (2022) “Not all subsidies are equal: Measuring preferences for electric vehicle financial incentives” Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.

Haiku Summaries
EV subsidies • should be instant cash rebates • and not tax credits

2. *Kaplan, Leah & Helveston, John P. (2022) “Undercutting Transit? Exploring potential competition between autonomous vehicles and public transportation in the U.S.” Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.

Robo-taxis won’t • (at the moment) take over • transit ridership

3. Helveston, John P. (2022) “The Rise of Chinese Leadership in the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Industry” Chinese Industrial Policy: Sectors and Resources. UCSD Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
   PDF

Half the world’s EVs • are sold in China; how? Well… • policy matters

4. Helveston, John P. (2022) “The cbcTools Package: Tools for Designing and Testing Choice-Based Conjoint Surveys in R” Sawtooth Software Conference.
   PDF Code & Data

Make choice-based conjoint • designs and test the sample • size requirements

5. Helveston, John P. (2021) “Obtaining Willingness to Pay Estimates from Preference Space and Willingness to Pay Space Utility Models” Sawtooth Software Conference.
   View Code & Data

Fast estimation • of mixed logit models and • WTP in R

6. Liang, Z., Li, D., Fu, X., Beltekian, D., Helveston, J.P. (2018) “The Co-evolution of MNE R&D Strategies and China’s National Innovation System: A Case Study on Siemens” IEEE International Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TEMS-ISIE). Beijing, PRC, pp. 1-9. DOI: 10.1109/TEMS-ISIE.2018.8478558
   View PDF

MNE research • and host country R&D • systems co-evolve

7. Helveston, J.P., Wang, Y., Karplus, V.J., & Fuchs, E.R.H. (2016) “Up, Down, and Sideways: Innovation in China and the Case of Plug-in Electric Vehicles” Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Anaheim, CA. Aug. 5.
   PDF SSRN

Institutions can • dramatically affect how • industries emerge

8. Helveston, J.P., Liu, Y., Feit, E.M., Fuchs, E.R.H., Klampfl, E., & Michalek, J.J. (2014) “Will subsidies drive electric vehicle adoption? Measuring consumer preferences in the U.S. and China” National Academies Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. Jan. 13.
   PDF

Full electric cars: • Chinese seem to like them more • than Americans

Magazine Publications

1. Helveston, John P. (2021) “Why the US Trails the World in Electric Vehicles” Issues in Science and Technology. 37, no. 2 (Winter 2021).
   View

Haiku Summaries
US policies • must be more aggressive to • increase EV sales

2. Helveston, John P. (2017) “Perspective: Navigating an Uncertain Future for US Roads” Issues in Science and Technology. 34, no. 1 (Fall 2017).
   View PDF

We should tax miles • driven (not fuel consumed), or • our roads will crumble

Books / Book Chapters

1. Ren, Justin Z. & Helveston, John P. (2019) “Measuring Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Among Cities: A Multi-Dimensional Approach” Melting the ICE: Lessons from China and the West in the Transition from the Internal Combustion Engine to Electric Vehicles. Ed. Fox-Penner, P., Ren, Z.J., & Jermain, D.O.. Harvard University Press.
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2. Hatch, Jennifer & Helveston, J.P. (2019) “Brookline, MA: A Small Town seeking to lead in a Broader EV Charging Network” Melting the ICE: Lessons from China and the West in the Transition from the Internal Combustion Engine to Electric Vehicles. Ed. Fox-Penner, P., Ren, Z.J., & Jermain, D.O.. Harvard University Press.
   View PDF

Theses

1. Helveston, John P. (2016) “Development and Adoption of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in China: Markets, Policy, and Innovation” Ph.D. Dissertation. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
   View Research Gate CMU Repository

Reports, Articles for Non-Academic Audiences, and Other Publications

1. Helveston, John P. (2022) “To boost solar, the US should use more carrots and fewer sticks” The Hill.
   View

2. Helveston, John P. (2022) “Tariffs won’t build a robust US solar industry” The Hill.
   View

3. Helveston, John P. (2019) “Podcast: GWU Professor John Helveston on EVs in China” The Future Car: A Siemens Podcast. May 13, 2019.
   Listen

4. Helveston, John P. (2019) “China’s looser rules may usher in a new era for EV and AV companies” Axios. February 1, 2019.
   View

5. Hatch, Jennifer & Helveston, J.P. (2018) “Will Autonomous Vehicles be Electric?” Institute for Sustainable Energy Blog. August 8, 2018.
   View

Software

1. Helveston, John P. (aut, cre, cph) (2021) “logitr: Fast Estimation of Multinomial and Mixed Logit Models with Preference Space and Willingness to Pay Space Utility Parameterizations” R package version 0.8.0.
   Documentation

2. Helveston, John P. (aut, cre, cph) & Aden-Buie, Garrick (aut) (2021) “renderthis: Render Slides To Different Formats” R package version 0.2.0.
   Documentation

3. Helveston, John P. (aut, cre, cph) (2021) “cbcTools: Tools For Designing Choice-Based Conjoint Survey Experiments” R package version 0.0.3.
   Documentation

Media Coverage

• Nov 07, 2022 - GW Hatchet: Study featured in article “Solar panel costs drop with global trading, SEAS professor finds”
• Oct 27, 2022 - E&E News: Study featured in article “How Biden’s made-in-America solar strategy may backfire”
• Oct 26, 2022 - Bloomberg: Study featured in article “Tariffs Threaten to Undermine Global Shift to Clean Energy”
• Oct 26, 2022 - PV Magazine: Study featured in article “Globalized supply chains saved $67 billion in solar panel production costs”
• Oct 26, 2022 - Times of San Diego: Study featured in article “Open Trade Saves Billions Worldwide on Solar Panels, Study Involving UCSD Finds”
• Oct 26, 2022 - GW Today: Study featured in article “Global Collaboration Saved Countries $67 Billion in Solar Panel Production Costs”
• Oct 26, 2022 - UCSD News: Study featured in article “Open Trade Saves Countries Billions in Solar Panel Production”
• Oct 26, 2022 - Stonybrook U News: Study featured in article “Global Collaboration is Key to Saving Billions for Solar Module Production”
• Aug 12, 2022 - Time: Quoted in “What Experts Say About How Valuable The Inflation Reduction Act’s Green Subsidies Will Be”
• Aug 11, 2022 - NPR: Featured in “All Things Considered” segment
• Aug 11, 2022 - NPR: Quoted in article “3 ways the Inflation Reduction Act would pay you to help fight climate change”
• Jul 29, 2022 - Green Car Reports: Study featured in article “EV tax credit extension with $7,500 point-of-sale rebate, $4,000 for used EVs could pass Senate soon”
• Jul 12, 2022 - Green Car Reports: Study feature article: “Study: Point-of-sale EV rebates buyers prefer could have saved $2 billion vs. tax credits”
• Jul 14, 2022 - dotLA: Featured in Electric Vehicle Tax Rebates Favor the Wealthy
• Jul 11, 2022 - The Drive: Featured in The Drive
• Jul 07, 2022 - Politico: Quoted in The Manchin show: What’s in, what’s out?
• Apr 29, 2022 - CGTN: Interview with CGTN Full Frame: Going Green
• Mar 25, 2022 - Reuters: Quoted in Inside China’s electric drive for swappable car batteries
• Jan 26, 2022 - Intelligencer: Quoted in To Fight Climate Change, Bring Back State Planning
• Oct 27, 2021 - RWeekly: Blog post on simulating the Squid Game bridge scene showcased on the RWeekly podcast.
• May 30, 2021 - The Wire China: Quoted in “The Competition Conundrum”
• Apr 23, 2021 - CNN Climate Town Hall: Asked question to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (Watch)
• Mar 21, 2021 - Market Scale: Interview: Can Geely Join the Ranks of Luxury EV Brands?
• Mar 03, 2020 - Associated Press: Interview: “China’s emissions drop amid coronavirus outbreak.”
• Jul 25, 2020 - Forbes: Quoted in “This Is A Big Reason Electric Cars Still Aren’t Popular With Americans: Study”
• Nov 21, 2019 - NPR Climate Cast: Quoted in “Trade dispute with China could slow transition to low-carbon power”
• Nov 15, 2019 - Xinhua News: Quoted in “美能源专家呼吁美加强与中国合作以实现减排目标”
• Nov 15, 2019 - GW Today: Interview, “Collaboration with China Is Critical to Achieving Climate Goals”
• Oct 28, 2019 - Physics World: Interview, “US motorists prepared to pay more for fuel to lower emissions”
• May 19, 2015 - CMU Engineering: Interivew, “What do American and Chinese consumers want in an electric vehicle?”